What is MAINE RESPONDS?
MAINE RESPONDS is a partnership that integrates local, regional, and statewide volunteer resources to assist our public health and healthcare systems. It is part of a national initiative (Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals or ESAR-VHP) to train, coordinate, and mobilize volunteers during an emergency. MAINE RESPONDS coordinates verified, pre-credentialed healthcare and emergency response volunteers into a single database that can coordinate the need for volunteers across county, regional, and state lines if needed.
Why do we need MAINE RESPONDS?
In a disaster, everyone wants to help. Lessons learned from large scale disasters such as 9/11, flooding in the Midwest, and Gulf Coast hurricanes show that an effective response requires that volunteers be pre-credentialed and deployed through a coordinated effort. Well meaning but unaffiliated volunteers who spontaneously present to disaster sites are often unable to be assigned. With limited time and resources to process volunteers, often only those with known credentials are permitted access to the disaster response. By registering with MAINE RESPONDS you can be part of a coordinated alert system and respond, when activated, to a disaster or public health emergency.
Who can register to volunteer?
We all have a role to play in preparing Maine for the challenges of responding to a public health or healthcare emergency. MAINE RESPONDS seeks volunteers from all backgrounds, skill levels, and experiences willing to support a public health or healthcare emergency response. The primary focus is on healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians, pharmacists, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, behavioral health professionals, laboratory professionals, diagnostic imaging professionals (radiographers), pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists. Other targeted professions and skill sets include security, clergy, administrative support, and industrial safety. If you work in a health-related discipline, we encourage you to register with MAINE RESPONDS.
How can I register?
Click the "Register Now" button on the home page to begin the registration process. If you are an existing member of a participating public health, medical, or emergency response group, please indicate your participation in that program during the registration process. Your personal information must be up-to-date in order to contact you for deployment and to identify you when reporting on-site. In order to utilize you to your full potential, your professional information (including certifications, licenses, training, and skills) must be complete and accurate.
Is my information safe?
Every possible step relating to data integrity and security is taken by the staff in order to prevent abuse and protect participants' privacy. Please review the Privacy Policy and contact us if you would like further information. Persons having access to this information are you, Maine Center for Disease Control (Maine CDC) and its local, regional, and federal partners involved in planning, responding, investigating, or controlling a public health or medical emergency, and the vendor contracted to maintain this Site and its services.
What type of information do I need to provide as an emergency responder to register with this System?
When you register, you will need to agree to the terms of service, and then will be asked to provide information specific to you and your skills for use by program administrators in establishing your emergency credentialing level and contacting you in the event of an emergency deployment.
I have already started registering with this System. How do I complete the registration process?
If you have started but have not completed registering, you will need to log in with the username and password you initially provided when you started the registration process. If your account is not in the system, you will need to start the registration process from the beginning. To resume the registration process, please use the log in box above and follow the instructions provided.
How can I change information that I provide on my account registration?
Once you have completed the registration process, you will be able to log in to your account using your username and password to update your account information.